Carolyn Edlund

As the founder and author of Artsy Shark, I have written countless articles on the business of art and worked individually with hundreds of artists to help them launch and grow successful businesses. You can read them at www.ArtsyShark.com.

For over twenty years, I worked as a self-employed artist running a successful production ceramic studio. My staff and I participated in over 200 retail fairs and trade shows, and sold our line wholesale into more than 1,000 galleries, stores, museum shops and catalog accounts. My experience includes hiring sales reps, selling to major retailers, and online sales to a global audience.

I’ve also worked as an outside rep for major art publishers, selling art prints, posters, greeting cards, gift and paper lines into hundreds of stores, earning “Rep of the Year” status by opening a record number of retail accounts.

My experiences gave me a focused perspective on the business of art and craft, an understanding of retailers’ needs, and the realities of the marketplace.

In addition to being the founder of Artsy Shark, I am the Executive Director of the Arts Business Institute, a nonprofit organization presenting business workshops for artists. I partner with the nationally known experts in our faculty to create transformative experiences for our workshop participants, who want to launch or grow successful small businesses.

In 2012, I wrote a comprehensive e-course titled “Marketing for Artists & Craftspeople” which is available through the Arts Business Institute website.

Visit www.ArtsyShark.com to find out more about becoming a featured artist, working with me to create successful strategies through my consultation services, or to read articles on how to market and sell your work.